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Posted on: March 19, 2020

Tracking coronavirus: City Council to consider measure for impacted renters, businesses, landlords

ANAHEIM, Calif. (March 23, 2020) — At the direction of Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu, the City Council will consider a measure to address impacted renters, business tenants and residential and commercial landlords at its teleconference meeting on Tuesday, March 24, at 5 p.m.

“We know the secondary economic impacts of the coronavirus outbreak are being felt in the daily lives of our residents and businesses,” Mayor Sidhu said. “We have looked to a unified, statewide policy as the best option for our city and all of California. Lacking that, I am prepared to take action. I am placing on our agenda an item to address residential and business renters struggling to pay rent as well as residential and commercial landlords, particularly smaller ones, who now are facing hardship paying mortgages and other obligations they have.”

If approved Tuesday by the City Council, the urgency ordinance would prohibit landlords from evicting commercial or residential tenants who are unable to pay rent due to inability to work or reduced income because of coronavirus.

Tenants who qualify for and take advantage of the ordinance would have 90 days after the expiration of the ordinance to pay back any rent payments delayed under the ordinance.

The ordinance would go into effect immediately upon approval and go through April 30, 2020 unless extended by the City Council.

Also part of Tuesday’s discussion by the City Council will be to potentially expanding the Senior Safety Net program to assist all Anaheim residents. The council will also discuss future federal funding opportunities to help landlords and tenants as well as a future economic assistance package to help all of Anaheim recover from the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak.

In addition, the City Council will take up several minor, critical items on the consent calendar to keep the city going even during these unique times, as well as receive an overview update on the city’s efforts regarding coronavirus.

The council meeting will be held by teleconference in accordance with current directives on public gatherings by the California Department of Public Health and the Orange County Health Care Agency.

Members of the public and the media can watch the meeting, with a primarily audio broadcast, online or on TV to comply with, and allowed under, social distancing requirements from California and the county of Orange.

Audio and limited video of the meeting will be broadcast live on Anaheim.net as well as on Anaheim TV, channel 3 for those watching on Spectrum TV in Anaheim.

City Council members will call in for the meeting as the dais in the City Council chambers does not allow for social distancing under state and local directives. Limited staff will be in chambers separated by six feet or more.

Any member of the public who wishes to comment will have an opportunity to participate in the meeting.

Public comments will be accepted via email to publiccomment@anaheim.net. They will be part of the public record of the meeting. Please send your comments by 3 p.m. Tuesday so they can be circulated among the council members before the meeting begins.

ABOUT ANAHEIM — Anaheim is a full-service city supporting more than 358,000 residents, 20,000 businesses and 25 million annual visitors. The city provides public safety through the Anaheim Police Department and Anaheim Fire & Rescue, water and power service through Anaheim Public Utilities, parks, community centers, family services and libraries through Anaheim Community Services, neighborhood and transportation improvements through Anaheim Public Works and community revitalization through Community & Economic Development. Anaheim is a modern, diverse city with a proud history dating back to its 1857 founding. Anaheim is known worldwide as the home of the Disneyland Resort, including Walt Disney’s original Disneyland Park, as well as Angel Stadium of Anaheim and Angels Baseball, Honda Center and the Anaheim Ducks, and the Anaheim Convention Center, the largest on the West Coast. Anaheim’s thriving visitor industry and business community help support the city’s neighborhoods and make Anaheim a great place to live, work and play. For more, please see www.anaheim.net.Back to top